Vintage Department Store Window Decorating

Do some of you remember the windows of the department stores from years ago? Especially at Christmas? 

For those of you who are too young, they went all out on decorating the windows and everyone went downtown at night to view the beautifully decorated windows full of all the latest toys. My memories are from the late 50's and early 60's.

It was magical and if the snow was falling, all the better!

Can you see the Shirley temple doll to the far right? 

And a view from above with the old 1920's automobiles...no I'm not that old but I do love these old cars....
Notice the Christmas trees all lined up on the ledge of the building.

All 4 images are of the old Dayton's Department store in downtown Minneapolis, Minnesota.

How about a new fox stole for Christmas?

 And my favorite...the 1920's wedding dresses...notice the brides dress middle right!

Reminds me of that beautiful 1920's wedding dress that I found late this summer at the yard sale. Could she have seen it in a window and said "that is the dress I want for my wedding!"

All the pictures above were from this link. Mr. Wild brought home the article out of the Minneapolis Star and Tribune.

My awesome find this summer...the 1920's wedding dress...If you missed it...more about my post here.

Thanks for stopping!
Linking to;
Faded Charm for White Wednesday
Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
The Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
2805 for Potpourri Friday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

Dying Bottle Brush Trees

 It's really easy to do and very addicting!

I found that I love the natural color of the bottle brush trees most of all but it is fun to have a few colorful trees.

I did a little winter decorating with a few natural trees, vintage tinsel garland and mercury glass ornaments. I love the old postcard of the children playing in the snow. 

I did not take pictures as I dyed these because it's so easy to do.

Below are the results.

Please be aware that every single tree comes out completely different so don't plan to get the same result twice. Just have fun with the surprises you get.

I used Rit dye for the pink trees (Petal Pink formerly Rose Pink). I LOVE the pink trees!

First off I tried the Rit Aquamarine on the tree on the far right and was disappointed in how it turned out, plus for some reason all the 'snow' came off so it will need some glitter. 

I found out that I liked the bluish color far better as the trees bleached rather than dying them. Funny thing is, they ended up the same color as the Aquamarine dye anyway. Possibly a lighter blue dye would have been a better choice....next time!

Bleaching and removing trees as they lighten; use about 50% bleach and 50% water in the smallest container that will fit the tree(s) (do not use for food). Push the tree down so that it is entirely covered and watch as it fades. Using tongs, pull out the tree as soon as you like the color...not all trees bleach the same so grab the trees that you like and and leave the rest in the bleach solution ...the longer they bleach the lighter they become and are better for dying pink or pastel colors. They bleach out quickly using this much bleach!

Rinse under water and plop into fresh water with a glug of vinegar, rinse again and set aside.

Dying the pink, I used about 1/8 package of the dry dye and about 1 Cup of water. (This is for the smallest size trees....you will need to increase this for larger trees). Heat in a saucepan that you do not use for food and be sure the dye has completely dissolved. Warm dye solution is fine.

When you have a tree ready to dye, use the tongs and be quick about it...drop the tree in the dye but pull it out after only a few seconds. The tree will take up the dye very quickly. Keep dipping the tree into the dye until you get the color you like. Set aside to dry.

I discovered that the trees take up the dye a lot quicker if they are still wet from the bleaching process. Don't handle the trees harshly if you want the 'snow' to remain on them.

Try any color but if you want the softer pastel shades use the trees that bleach out to be a light cream.

The 'green' trees can be found in craft stores such as JoAnns, Michaels and Hobby Lobby.

I'd love to see what you do!!!

Pictures of bleaching info HERE

Thanks for stopping by...and Happy Thanksgiving!

Linking to:

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
Brambleberry Cottage for Time Travel Thursday
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday
2825 for Potpourri Friday

Just what I needed! From Sandi at A Cottage Muse...

Sandi over at A Cottage Muse offered a giveaway that was just perfect for me and I was the lucky winner!

I won 100 5" x 7" postcards from UPrinting !

They just arrived last week and this is how they turned out...I love them!

I took this picture a couple of years ago in Nevada City, Montana looking through a window into an old cabin.

I added my rug hooking business info and uploaded it to the the website (it was all very easy to do). They printed them out and shipped them to me and they are even better than I expected! They are just perfect for slipping into my packages when I mail out orders....and 100 of them!!! I know I'll be ordering again!

Thank You Sandi!!!!

98 year old 'antique'...My Dad's Birthday!

My dad is celebrating his 98th birthday I thought it might be nice to post about him...

He worked hard all his life, he was a Chief Gunners Mate in the Navy in WWll in the South Pacific during many of the big battles.

He still lives on his own, does his own laundry, makes 2 meals a day, goes grocery shopping and yes, he can still drive and he drives well! Better than most people around here (and he doesn't gab on his cell phone while driving either!). Besides that his memory is better than mine or Mr. Wild.
And he still has his hair!!

A picture of him in his Navy uniform with his 1942 Plymouth.

This was taken when I was born, my dad, brother, sister and my mom.

My mom was born 3 days after the Titanic sunk, 1912. She's no longer with us, she passed away in 2000 at 87...didn't quite make it to 88.

Anyway...Happy Birthday Dad!

P.S....we're getting out first snow!!!

Bleaching Bottle Brush Trees

Little forest of bleached bottle brush trees....

I planned to try this last year but never had the time.

I found out it is so easy and fast!

I used an old plastic dish tub with about 1 cup of bleach and enough warm water to cover the trees. (more trees...use more bleach) Wear rubber gloves to save your hands from the bleach.

You can see the bleached trees which only took about 1 hour or less to lose their green color. I was happy with the results so I tossed in a few more trees.

When they lost all the green color I rinsed them under the faucet and then I filled a container with fresh water and about 1/2 cup of vinegar (the vinegar will neutralize the bleach). Swished them around in that and rinsed again. Let stand overnight to air dry.

If after about 2 hours there is still a little green left in the trees, pour out the water and start with fresh warm water and bleach.

As you can see the little trees pull out of the white plastic stand, very easily.
I like the 'snow' that is already on them but it does flake off easily after the bleaching process so I handled them carefully.

I used a dab of poster putty to secure inside the spools which were wrapped with a strip of vintage music paper or...

...an old door knob as a base.

I love how they turned out so I'm on my way to pick up another bag of trees (any craft store and I bet dollar stores have them).  And I'll keep my eyes open for anything else vintage that may make a good base.

Two days later....I can't stop!!!! Here are a few more that have bleached and dried. I keep finding little things around the house to use as holders. A tarnished silver cup, glass door knob, an old coffee cup with wheat, a spool of crochet thread, an old bean pot and I wrapped a couple more spools with old tatting and lace.

My info on dying the trees here.

Thanks for stopping by!

Linking to;

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday
From My front Porch To Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday
2805 for Potpourri Friday
Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday
The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home
French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday
My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Vintage buttons, skeleton keys and pocket watch faces, just for fun!

Old buttons, skeleton keys and pocket watch faces....Don't we all just love 'em!

I was finally in the mood to play around with Photoshop a little bit...it was easier than I expected!

Now if I'll just remember what I did for the next time!!!!

I remember when I was a little kid my Grandpa had a whole cigar box full of old skeleton keys. I LOVED them then and I was too timid to ask for a few...would I love to have that box full now!

I just need to learn to slow down and take time...I'm always in a big hurry and I don't know why...wasn't there a song by Alabama about that!

I hope you all are having a splendid week!

Thanks for stopping by and taking time to look...

Linking to;

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

From My Front Porch to Yours for Treasure Hunt Thursday

2805 for Potpourri Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday

Rick Rack Roses

It seems rick rack roses are becoming more popular.

My friend Stephanie got me started on these, they're easy to make and addicting!

I hand dyed the pink and I love how they turned out.

All of them are made using jumbo rick rack and if you want to learn how to make them...here's a link.

Thanks for stopping! Wish I had more to say but I'm working more than normal for awhile and it puts a crunch on my fun stuff!

Linking to;

Faded Charm for White Wednesday

Savvy Southern Style for Wow Us Wednesday

2805 for Potpourri Friday

Common Ground for Vintage Inspiration Friday

French Country Cottage for Feathered Nest Friday

The Charm of Home for Home Sweet Home

My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday